Tonight I went along to hear a concert called Haydn in London: The Revolutionary Drawing Room at Gresham College.

Thomas Gresham conceived fo the idea of a building an Exchange modeled on the Bourse in Antwerp in 1537. It worked other than the Queen Elizabeth demanding that the name be changed to the Royal Exchange. In his will, Gresham left funds for free public lectures to be given in the City of London. 400 years later, these lectures are still going.

Gresham bought lots of land and property in London with his funds that today sustains one of the largest charities in London. Gresham’s symbol, the grasshopper, is found on buildings in London. I liked the symbol so much that I took it’s picture several weeks ago at the Bond Street winter wonderland.

The Hall:

List of Headmasters from the Mercer School (and symbol of the Mercer)